NATO member states, especially Europeans, should aim for a coalition of the willing to send troops to Ukraine, consisting of a core group of the U.K., France, Germany and Poland, with support by the United States.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has suggested that the parts of Ukraine under his control should be taken "under the Nato umbrella" to try and stop the "hot phase" of the war. He was asked by Sky News whether he would accept Nato membership, but only on the territory that Kyiv currently holds.

Fresh Ukrainian troops are being redeployed to the heavily threatened front-line regions of Pokrovsk and Kurakhove, while Ukraine's president said he could agree to a ceasefire if NATO agrees to protect areas under Ukrainian control.

Ukraine has urged NATO to admit it to the alliance at a meeting next week in a letter sent by its Foreign Minister.

Ukraine could agree to a ceasefire with Russia if NATO extends its protection to the parts of the country controlled by Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday. "If we want to stop the hot phase of the war,

Andrij Sybiha, the head of Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has requested NATO members to extend an official invitation for Ukraine to join the Alliance. According to a report by the Reuters agency,